So, after a few weeks, here's my little report on Anime Conji 2015. Kinda felt like this one needed a pick me up, even with some of what went down. Still, not a bad use of a weekend by any stretch. Take a gander inside, and check out what I thought. Maybe you'd like to attend in the future, who knows?

It should probably be noted at the beginning that if one is a photographer, it becomes an act of masochistic love to go to a convention of shiny cosplayers (yes, that was a deliberate Pokemon reference) with carpal tunnel syndrome. Thankfully, Anime Conji is a small convention and not the much larger Wondercon up in Anaheim. As it was, every single time I hefted the camera and took a photo, lancing pain through my hands and up my forarms was my reward.

This is the fifth year of Anime Conji, taking place at the Sheraton Hotel in the Marina across from the San Diego International Airport (no, really, you can walk across the highway to the airport just outside of the hotel) as it did the previous year. I admit to liking the Town and Country a lot better than the Sheraton due to the fact that it's a lot more accessible and the Fashion Valley Mall was in back of it, so one could bail out and get something to eat. Now, granted everything was spread all over the place at the Town and Country, but I'm thinking this could have mitigated somewhat by reserving more of the convention center proper with all of its little outlying rooms, but who knows how the hotel may have logistically fucked that one up to make that a nonstarter. But, whatever, it's at the Sheraton...nothing else to be done. Admittedly I wasn't planning on attending initially, but events did conspire to allow me the time and inclination to head over there. I'm not entirely certain what I went to, however. By that, I mean, a convention has a certain feel to it. This event was not lacking in it per se, but it was greatly lessened. Oddly, I even ran into an overbearing floor manager, and got kicked out of the Improv Masquerade, which is usually a threat at the larger conventions with such individuals; yet, even that didn't quite make me feel like I was at a convention. I think I get what it was, but I'll save that for later.

So, at this Anime Conji I managed to record far more video than last convention, which is good; though I did manage to get kicked out of the Improv Masquerade, but more on that in the convention report. I should note that the FAKKU panels did have material that most would consider explicit in nature. Viewer discretion is advised. And by that, I mean, if you're under 18, you don't watch this. Suffice it to say you can find the Improv Masquerade and FAKKU panels on Youtube and Vimeo respectively:

With a little love, and some tenderness; we'll walk upon the water...well, maybe not, but I was listening to Hootie and the Blowfish while editing this last convention of Anime Conji 2015's pictures. There were other, higher profile conventions going on this past weekend, but there's much to be said about a smaller one with a lot less running around and stress. It's also a lot more personable, since you tend to run into the same people a lot. I doubt you want to hear me ramble on, so check out the pics. As is usual, if you see your pic and you want a larger/unedited and/or raw copy, drop me a line and let me know. And as always, have fun!

After a couple of weeks of procrastination, I now have the Anime Conji 2014 report up. It was an interesting convention in a lot of ways, as it wound up breaking convention (ha! I pun!) in several ways, and I wound up taking the time to do the same. In terms of checking out the Nerf war and panels I usually wouldn't it was an interesting time this year. Check out my little writeup; it may convince you to check the convention out if you're ever in the area to do so.

I'll admit, I'm not entirely sure what to say about this one. Not because it was bad, per se, but because a lot of what was done wasn't really tried before at your standard anime convention. Also, I wound up keeping a promise to myself that I'd go and sit in on some panels. So a double whammy for unusual conventions as a personal experience.

The only video I managed to record this year at Anime Conji was the panel by well known cosplayer, Maridah. In this video you will find helpful advice for all stages of cosplay and cosplay enthusiasts as well as some humorous anecdotes in the world an extremely nice and down to Earth (such as can be said of any of us, heh) cosplayer. It is unfortunate that I was only able to start the camera at the second question due to not being able to be let in early.

So, without further ado, here's the panel on both Youtube and a torrent you can download either below or on Nyaa Torrents.

Well, only a little bit late this time around. At least I got it done before ACEN and Fanime. Still, for those that wish to know what went down concerning Anime Conji 2013, just head over to the report and check it out. Some say that it's not a convention unless you feel happy, in pain, with the life drained out of you. I personally prefer a succubus to do that for me, so I find welcome relief when I go to a convention where I just get the happy part.

Concerning ACEN, so long as their policy that they own all rights to every event, and nothing can be recorded or used without their say or how they specify (which is currently that one can only cut it into a highlight advertisment clip), then I will not work for them in any capacity. I'll attend because family and friends are in the area, and even despite that, it's a fun time. Concerning press or any further recording or work? They've put paid to that notion for the forseeable future...which is a damn shame. It used to be a cooperation, but now? They own it all, and your fun time exists only because they say it does and how they say it does.

Ah, Anime Conji...good times. Anime Conji is currently the only purely anime convention here in San Diego and this was its fourth year running. This was also the third year at the Town and Country Hotel and the second for using its convention center; the first year being spent at the Double Tree hotel, and crowded that poor place out. So far, the Town and Country has provided plenty of room for the convention and its attendees; in fact this year I would go so far as to say it was almost too much room.